U.S. patent application number 11/938466 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for display device stand.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.. Invention is credited to Motonari Chinuki, Yoshihiko Kato, Kazunori Sukeda.
Application Number | 20080239638 11/938466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39793933 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080239638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chinuki; Motonari ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
DISPLAY DEVICE STAND
Abstract
There is provided a display device stand that allows a TV
conference to be held in a limited space, such as a small room, in
a satisfactory manner. A display device stand 1 for supporting a
display device 30 includes a base 2, a column 12 standing on the
base 2, and angular adjustment member 20 provided at the top of the
column 12. The rear side of the display device 30 is connected to
the angular adjustment member 20 and the display device 30 can be
angularly adjusted between the position where the display screen of
the display device 30 is oriented upward and the position where the
display screen of the display device 30 is oriented horizontally.
The angular adjustment member 20 is a hinge 20 having two blades
that can swing with respect to each other. By disposing one or more
hinges 20 at the top of the column 12, fixing one of the blades of
the hinge 20 to the top of the column 12, and fixing the other
blade to the rear side of the display device 30, the display device
30 can swing integrally with the other blade. The hinge 20 has a
torque greater than a maximum rotational torque acting on the
display device 30, so that the display device 30 can be reliably
held at an arbitrary angle.
Inventors: |
Chinuki; Motonari; (Chiba,
JP) ; Kato; Yoshihiko; (Chiba, JP) ; Sukeda;
Kazunori; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,
LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39793933 |
Appl. No.: |
11/938466 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.07 ;
361/679.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/10 20130101;
F16M 2200/041 20130101; F16M 11/42 20130101; F16M 11/28 20130101;
F16M 11/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/681 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2007 |
JP |
2007-79515 |
Claims
1. A display device stand for supporting a display device,
comprising: a base; a column standing on the base; and an angular
adjustment member provided at the top of the column to be connected
to the rear side of the display device so that the display device
can be angularly adjusted at least between the position where the
display screen of the display device is oriented upward and the
position where the display screen of the display device is oriented
horizontally.
2. The display device stand according to claim 1, wherein the
angular adjustment member is configured so that the display device
can be angularly adjusted to a position where the display screen of
the display device is oriented downward below the horizontal
direction.
3. The display device stand according to claim 1, wherein the
angular adjustment member is a hinge having two blades that can
swing with respect to each other, and by disposing one or more
hinges at the top of the column, fixing one of the blades of the
hinge to the top of the column, and fixing the other blade to the
rear side of the display device, the display device can swing
integrally with the other blade.
4. The display device stand according to claim 2, wherein the
angular adjustment member is a hinge having two blades that can
swing with respect to each other, and by disposing one or more
hinges at the top of the column, fixing one of the blades of the
hinge to the top of the column, and fixing the other blade to the
rear side of the display device, the display device can swing
integrally with the other blade.
5. The display device stand according to claim 1, wherein the
column has a height adjustment mechanism that extends or retracts
the column in the vertical direction, and by using the height
adjustment mechanism to extend or retract the column in the
vertical direction, the vertical position of the display device can
be adjusted.
6. The display device stand according to claim 2, wherein the
column has a height adjustment mechanism that extends or retracts
the column in the vertical direction, and by using the height
adjustment mechanism to extend or retract the column in the
vertical direction, the vertical position of the display device can
be adjusted.
7. The display device stand according to claim 3, wherein the
column has a height adjustment mechanism that extends or retracts
the column in the vertical direction, and by using the height
adjustment mechanism to extend or retract the column in the
vertical direction, the vertical position of the display device can
be adjusted.
8. The display device stand according to claim 4, wherein the
column has a height adjustment mechanism that extends or retracts
the column in the vertical direction, and by using the height
adjustment mechanism to extend or retract the column in the
vertical direction, the vertical position of the display device can
be adjusted.
9. The display device stand according to claim 5 further comprising
an attachment portion provided at the top of the column, wherein
one of the blades of the hinge is fixed to the attachment portion,
and the attachment portion has a handle that activates the height
adjustment mechanism of the column to extend or retract the column
in the vertical direction.
10. The display device stand according to claim 6 further
comprising an attachment portion provided at the top of the column,
wherein one of the blades of the hinge is fixed to the attachment
portion, and the attachment portion has a handle that activates the
height adjustment mechanism of the column to extend or retract the
column in the vertical direction.
11. The display device stand according to claim 7 further
comprising an attachment portion provided at the top of the column,
wherein one of the blades of the hinge is fixed to the attachment
portion, and the attachment portion has a handle that activates the
height adjustment mechanism of the column to extend or retract the
column in the vertical direction.
12. The display device stand according to claim 8 further
comprising an attachment portion provided at the top of the column,
wherein one of the blades of the hinge is fixed to the attachment
portion, and the attachment portion has a handle that activates the
height adjustment mechanism of the column to extend or retract the
column in the vertical direction.
13. The display device stand according to claim 1, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
14. The display device stand according to claim 2, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
15. The display device stand according to claim 3, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
16. The display device stand according to claim 4, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
17. The display device stand according to claim 5, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
18. The display device stand according to claim 6, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
19. The display device stand according to claim 7, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
20. The display device stand according to claim 8, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
21. The display device stand according to claim 9, wherein when the
display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the display
screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
22. The display device stand according to claim 10, wherein when
the display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the
display screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque
greater than the rotational torque acting on the display
device.
23. The display device stand according to claim 11, wherein when
the display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the
display screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque
greater than the rotational torque acting on the display
device.
24. The display device stand according to claim 12, wherein when
the display device is angularly adjusted in such a way that the
display screen is oriented horizontally, the hinge has a torque
greater than the rotational torque acting on the display device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a display device stand, and
particularly to a display device stand that is effective in
angularly adjusting and supporting a panel display device, such as
a liquid crystal monitor.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In recent years, there have been provided various TV
conference systems using networks, and they have been widely used,
for example, when panel display devices, such as liquid crystal
monitors, are used to hold a TV conference between attendees at
locations remote from each other.
[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-30913
discloses, as an exemplary panel display device that can be used in
such TV conference systems, a display device stand including a
base, a column standing on the upper side of the base, and casters
attached at a plurality of locations on the underside of the base.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-30913 also discloses an example
in which a display device is attached to the upper end of the
column of the display device stand.
[0006] A TV conference between attendees at locations remote from
each other using display devices, each having such a configuration,
can be held by preparing such display devices, the number of which
corresponds to the number of attendees participating in the TV
conference, placing the display devices in such a way that they
face the attendees, and showing the attendees the contents
displayed on the display screens of the individual display devices.
In this way, the TV conference will proceed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Since display devices, each having the configuration
described above, should be prepared and placed, the number of which
corresponds to the number of attendees participating in the TV
conference, a large space is required when a large number of
attendees participate. A limited space, such as a small room, may
therefore pose a difficulty in holding a TV conference.
[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the
conventional problem described above and aims to provide a display
device stand that allows a TV conference to be held with display
devices, the number of which is fewer than that of attendees, so
that the space necessary for the TV conference is substantially
reduced and the TV conference can be held in a limited space, such
as a small room, in a satisfactory manner.
[0009] To solve the above problems, according to the present
invention, a display device stand for supporting a display device
includes a base, a column standing on the base, and an angular
adjustment member provided at the top of the column. The rear side
of the display device is connected to the angular adjustment
member, and the angular adjustment member is configured so that the
display device can be angularly adjusted at least between the
position where the display screen of the display device is oriented
upward and the position where the display screen of the display
device is oriented horizontally.
[0010] With the display device stand according to the present
invention, since the angular adjustment member can angularly
adjusts the display device at least between the position where the
display screen of the display device is oriented upward and the
position where the display screen of the display device is oriented
horizontally, the display device can be angularly adjusted at a
position where the display screen is visible from both sides.
[0011] Therefore, when a TV conference is held with a large number
of attendees, two attendees can share one display device, so that
the number of display devices to be prepared may be half the number
of the attendees. The space necessary for the TV conference can
thus be significantly reduced, and the TV conference can be held in
a space of a small room in a satisfactory manner.
[0012] In the invention, the display device may be configured in
such a way that it can be angularly adjusted to a position where
the display screen of the display device is oriented downward below
the horizontal direction.
[0013] In the display device stand according to the present
invention, by angularly adjusting the display device at a position
where the display screen of the display device is oriented downward
below the horizontal direction when the display device is not used,
it is possible to prevent dust and the like from attaching to the
surface of the display device.
[0014] In the invention, the angular adjustment member may be
configured in such a way that it is a hinge having two blades that
can swing with respect to each other, and by disposing one or more
hinges at the top of the column, fixing one of the blades of the
hinge to the top of the column, and fixing the other blade to the
rear side of the display device, the display device can swing
integrally with the other blade.
[0015] In the display device stand according to the present
invention, the other blade of the hinge swings relative to the one
of the blades, so that the display device swings integrally with
the other blade and the display device is adjusted to the angle
corresponding to the swing position of the other blade.
[0016] In the invention, the column may be configured in such a way
that it has a height adjustment mechanism that extends or retracts
the column in the vertical direction, and by using the height
adjustment mechanism to extend or retract the column in the
vertical direction, the vertical position of the display device can
be adjusted.
[0017] In the display device stand according to the present
invention, by using the height adjustment mechanism to extend or
retract the column in the vertical direction, the display device
moves integrally with the column in the vertical direction, so that
the vertical position of the display device is adjusted.
[0018] In the invention, an attachment portion may be provided at
the top of the column. One of the blades of the hinge may be fixed
to the attachment portion, and the attachment portion may have a
handle that activates the height adjustment mechanism of the column
to extend or retract the column in the vertical direction.
[0019] In the display device stand according to the present
invention, by operating the handle of the attachment portion to
activate the height adjustment mechanism so as to extend or retract
the column, the display device moves integrally with the column in
the vertical direction, so that the vertical position of the
display device is adjusted.
[0020] In the invention, when the display device is angularly
adjusted in such a way that the display screen is oriented
horizontally, the hinge may have a torque greater than the
rotational torque acting on the display device.
[0021] In the display device stand according to the present
invention, since the hinge has a torque greater than a maximum
rotational torque acting on the display device, when the display
device is adjusted to an arbitrary angular position, the display
device can be reliably held at that position.
[0022] As described above, with the display device stand according
to the present invention, since the display device can be angularly
adjusted in an arbitrarily manner between the position where the
display screen of the display device is oriented upward and the
position where the display screen of the display device is oriented
horizontally, the display device can be adjusted at an angle where
the display screen is visible from both sides.
[0023] Therefore, when a TV conference is held with a large number
of attendees, two attendees can share one display device, so that
the number of display devices to be prepared may be half the number
of the attendees. The space necessary for the TV conference can
thus be significantly reduced and the TV conference can be held
with a large number of attendees in a limited space, such as a
small room.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the entirety of an embodiment
of the display device stand according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the display device stand with
a column extended;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the display device stand with
its display device inclined at approximately 45 degrees;
[0030] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the rear side of the display
device;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7;
[0032] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the display device with
its display screen angularly adjusted and oriented
horizontally;
[0033] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the display device with
its display screen angularly adjusted and inclined at approximately
45 degrees;
[0034] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the display device with
its display screen angularly adjusted and oriented upward;
[0035] FIG. 12A is a plan view of a hinge;
[0036] FIG. 12B is a side view of FIG. 12A;
[0037] FIG. 12C is a front view of FIG. 12A; and
[0038] FIG. 13 is a layout diagram of display devices when a TV
conference is held.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to the drawings.
[0040] The display device stand 1 in the present embodiment can be
applied to various TV conference systems using networks, and, for
example, effective in angularly adjusting and supporting a
panel-type display device, such as a liquid crystal monitor, when
such a display device is used to hold a TV conference between
locations remote from each other with a large number of attendees
on both sides. The display device stand 1 includes a base 2
pivotable and movable in four directions, forward and rearward as
well as rightward and leftward, on the floor of a room or the like,
a column 12 provided on the upper side of the base 2 and standing
perpendicular thereto, an attachment portion 16 provided integrally
with the top of the column 12, and angular adjustment member 20
attached to the attachment portion 16. A display device 30 is
attached to the angular adjustment member 20.
[0041] The base 2 includes a leg 3, a base plate 5 provided
integrally with the upper side of the leg 3, casters 6 attached to
the underside of the leg 3, and a weight 10 removably attached to
the underside of the base plate 5. The column 12 perpendicularly
stands on the upper side of the base plate 5.
[0042] The leg 3 is formed by combining four supporting legs 4
crosswise, as shown in FIG. 3. The rectangular plate-like base
plate 5 is integrally connected to the upper center of the combined
supporting legs 4 using welding or the like, and the column 12
perpendicularly stands on the base plate 5 in such a way that the
column 12 is located behind the display screen of the display
device 30.
[0043] Each of the casters 6 is attached to the underside of the
end of each supporting leg 4 of the leg 3, and these casters 6
support the base 2, the column 12 standing on the base 2, and the
display device 30 attached to the top of the column 12 via the
angular adjustment member 20 and allow them integrally to pivot and
move in four directions, forward and rearward as well as rightward
and leftward, on the floor.
[0044] The caster 6 is a commercially available caster and includes
a base section 7 secured to the underside of each supporting leg 4
with screws (not shown), a support section 8 pivotably provided
under the base section 7, a shaft (not shown), the central part of
which is supported by the support section 8, and a wheel 9
rotatably supported by the shaft via bearings (not shown). When
each of the wheels 9 rotates around the shaft and pivots by
following the pivotal movement of the support section 8, the base
2, the column 12 and the display device 30 will integrally move in
four directions, forward and rearward as well as rightward and
leftward, on the floor and pivot on the floor.
[0045] The caster 6 is not limited to the one configured as
described above, but may be various other commercially available
types. The supporting legs 4 of the leg 3 are not also limited to
the cross shape but may be formed in other shapes.
[0046] The weight 10 is, for example, made of metallic material,
such as lead, and shaped into a plate. The weight 10 is removably
attached to the center of the underside of the base plate 5 with
screws 11. By adding the mass of the weight 10 to the underside of
the base plate 5, it is possible to increase the mass of the base 2
and shift the position of the center of gravity of the display
device stand 1 including the display device 30 downward. The
stability of the base 2 is therefore enhanced, so that the display
device 30 supported above the base 2 via the column 12 can be
supported in a stable manner and the length of each supporting leg
4 can be reduced.
[0047] In this case, the space formed under the underside of the
base plate 5 is used to attach the weight 10. Therefore, by
changing the number of weights 10 according to the mass, the
position of the center of gravity and the like of the display
device 30 being used, the base 2 can support various display
devices 30 different in masses, position of center of gravity and
the like from each other in a stable manner.
[0048] The column 12 perpendicularly stands at a position displaced
from the center of the base plate 5 to the rear side of the display
screen of the display device 30 (rightward in FIG. 2). The
attachment portion 16 is provided integrally with the top of the
column 12, and the display device 30 is attached to the attachment
portion 16 via the angular adjustment member 20.
[0049] The column 12 has an extendable vertical height adjustment
mechanism 13. By using the height adjustment mechanism 13 to extend
or retract the column 12 in the vertical direction, it is possible
to adjust the vertical position of the display device 30 attached
to the attachment portion 16 at the top of the column 12 via the
angular adjustment member 20.
[0050] In the present embodiment, the column 12 with the height
adjustment mechanism 13 is a commercially available air suspension
including a cylinder body 14 and a reciprocately movable rod 15 in
the cylinder body 14. In this case, the lower end of the cylinder
body 14 of the air suspension is secured to the upper side of the
base plate 5 of the base 2 with screws, and the display device 30
is attached via the angular adjustment member 20 to the upper side
of the box-like attachment portion 16 provided integrally with the
upper end of the rod 15.
[0051] The attachment portion 16 is not limited to the box shape,
but may be formed in other shapes such as a plate.
[0052] A U-shaped handle 17 is provided integrally with the rear
side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the attachment portion 16 in
such a way that the handle 17 juts out from the rear. By holding
the handle 17 by hand and vertically moving the rod 15, the display
device 30 can be brought to the position corresponding to the
vertical position of the rod 15.
[0053] A locking mechanism (not shown) that secures the rod 15 at a
predetermined vertical position is provided between the cylinder
body 14 and the rod 15. By using the locking mechanism to secure
the rod 15, it is possible to secure the display device 30 attached
to the rod 15 via the attachment portion 16 at an arbitrary
vertical position.
[0054] The column 12 is not limited to the air suspension, but may
be other mechanisms as long as they have an extendable vertical
height adjustment mechanism 13.
[0055] The angular adjustment member 20 is a hinge 20 including two
rectangular plate-like blades 21 and 22, sleeves 21a and 22a
provided integrally with the edges of the longer sides of the
blades 21 and 22, respectively, and a connecting rod 23 that
connects the sleeves 21a of the blade 21 with the sleeves 22a of
the blade 22 in such a way that the sleeves 21a and 22a can rotate
with respect to each other, as shown in FIG. 12. In such a
configuration, the two blades 21 and 22 can swing with respect to
each other within a predetermined angular range around the
connecting rod 23.
[0056] The hinge 20 is adjusted in such a way that the rotational
torque necessary to swing the blades 21 and 22 is greater than a
maximum torque generated by the display device 30, as will be
described later.
[0057] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, two
hinges 20 are disposed in series on the upper side of the
attachment portion 16. For each of the hinges 20, one of the blades
of the hinge 20, the blade 21, is fixed to the upper side of the
attachment portion 16 with screws 25, while the other blade 22 is
fixed to the center of the rear side of the display device 30 via a
plate 24 with the screws 25. The display device 30 thus swings
integrally with the other blades 22 of the hinges 20 on the upper
side of the attachment portion 16. In this way, the display device
30 can swing between the position where the display screen is
oriented upward (the position where the other blades 22 are at
their closed positions) and the position where the display screen
is oriented horizontally (the position where the other blades 22
are angled substantially at 90 degrees with respect to the blades
21), and the display device 30 can be adjusted at an arbitrary
angle between these two positions.
[0058] The hinge 20 is configured in such a way that when the
display device 30 is angularly adjusted to an arbitrary position,
the hinge 20 has a torque greater than the rotational torque acting
on the hinge 20 generated by the mass of the display device 30 at
the adjusted position. In this way, the hinge 20 reliably holds the
display device 30 at an arbitrary position. That is, since a
maximum rotational torque acts on the hinge 20 at the position
where the display screen of the display device 30 is oriented
horizontally, the hinge 20 is selected to have a torque greater
than the rotational torque acting on the display device 30 at that
position. Use of the hinge 20 having such a torque allows the
display device 30 to be reliably held at an arbitrary position.
[0059] Alternatively, the display device 30 may be angularly
adjusted to a position where the display screen of the display
device 30 is oriented downward below the horizontal direction. By
angularly adjusting the display device 30 at such a position, it is
possible to prevent dust and the like from attaching to the display
screen of the display device 30 when not used.
[0060] In the present embodiment, the display device 30 is a
24-inch liquid crystal monitor having a weight of 9 kg. The
rotational torque acting on the display device 30 measured at the
position where the display screen of the display device 30 is
oriented horizontally was a maximum torque and approximately 6.95
Nm. The hinge 20 having a torque greater than this rotational
torque (approximately 9.2 Nm) was therefore selected and used.
[0061] In the present embodiment, although two hinges 20, each
having a torque of approximately 4.6 Nm, disposed in series are
used, one hinge 20 or more than two hinges 20 may be used to ensure
a torque of 9.2 Nm. The hinge 20 having a torque of approximately
9.2 Nm is used because an error of the torque of the hinge 20 is
taken into account.
[0062] How to calculate the torque acting on the hinge 20 will be
specifically described below.
<Prerequisites of the Calculation>
[0063] 1) Mass of the display device (liquid crystal monitor); W
(kg) 2) Thickness of the display device (liquid crystal monitor); D
(mm) 3) Rotational torque acting on the hinge; F (Nm) 4) Thickness
D of the display device (liquid crystal monitor) having a size of
19 inch or greater; proportional to the mass of the display device
and satisfying the following equation: D=10W (mm) 5) Position of
the center of gravity of the display device (liquid crystal
monitor); the center of both the height and width of the display
device and apart from the front side by one-third of the thickness
of the display device 6) Distance from the center of the connecting
rod of the hinge to the display device (liquid crystal monitor);
18.7 (mm) Under the above prerequisites, the rotational torque F
acting on the hinge is calculated by the following equation:
F=W.times.9.81.times.(10W.times.2/3+18.7)/1000
The rotational torque H (Nm) of the hinge to be selected satisfies
the following equation:
F<H<1.4F
When the mass of the display device (liquid crystal monitor) is 9
kg,
F=9.times.9.81.times.(10.times.9.times.2/3+18.7))/1000=6.95
(Nm)
6.95<H<9.73
Therefore, two hinges, each having a torque of 4.6 (Nm), may be
used.
[0064] When the equation 4) is not applicable, the torque is
calculated as follows:
F=9.times.9.81.times.(85.times.2/3+18.7))/1000=6.65 (Nm) (The value
85 is the actual thickness of the monitor.)
6.65<H<9.31
In this case, again, two hinges, each having a torque of 4.6 (Nm),
may be used.
[0065] To hold a TV conference by using the display devices 30,
each attached to the display device stand 1 having the above
configuration according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
13, for example, when the number of attendees 45 of the TV
conference is six, the six attendees 45 are seated in a circle, and
each of the display device 30 is placed between adjacent attendees
45. Then, by swinging each of the display devices 30 at the top of
the column 12 to adjust the inclination angle of the display device
30, the display screen of the display device 30 is positioned to be
visible from both sides of the display screen.
[0066] After the inclination angle of each of the display devices
30 is set, the attendees 45 on both sides look at the display
screen of the display device 30. In this way, the TV conference can
proceed while the attendees look at the contents displayed on the
display screens.
[0067] In the example shown in FIG. 13, a housing rack 40, having a
triangular shape when viewed from above, which houses a personal
computer body, and housing sections 41 for keyboards and mouses are
placed among three display devices 30. The reduced length of the
supporting legs 4 allows this compact layout.
[0068] In the display device stand 1 having the configuration
described above according to the present embodiment, since the
display device 30 can swing between the position where the display
screen is oriented upward and the position where the display screen
is oriented horizontally as well as be adjusted at an arbitrary
angle between these positions, the display device 30 can be
adjusted at an angle where the display screen is visible from both
sides.
[0069] Therefore, when a TV conference is held, the number of
display devices 30 to be prepared can be half the number of the
attendees. The space necessary for the TV conference can thus be
significantly reduced and the TV conference can be held in a
limited space, such as a small room, in a satisfactory manner.
[0070] Since the hinge 20 that angularly adjusts and supports the
display device 30 is selected to have a torque greater than a
maximum rotational torque acting on the display device 30, when the
display device 30 is angularly adjusted at any angle within a
swingable range, the display device 30 can be reliably held at that
position.
[0071] In the above description, although the hinge 20 is used as
the angular adjustment member 20 for adjusting the angle of the
display device 30, the angular adjustment member is not limited to
the hinge 20, but may be other member 20 as long as they have a
function capable of adjusting the display device 30 at a
predetermined angle and holding the display device 30 at that
position.
[0072] Furthermore, in the above description, although the column
12 with the height adjustment mechanism 13 is used, a column with
no height adjustment mechanism may be used.
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